JAGTIAL: The case of the missing diamond studded bangles has become a topic of water cooler chats for the people of Bhupalapalli district. It is reported that an NRI, originally from the Dharmapuri village in Bhupalapalli district had donated the bangles worth Rs 6 lakh to the Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy temple in her hometown a few months ago.
Around a month ago, the temple’s administration conducted an audit of the temple’s properties and published a list of its jewels. The bangles were conspicuously absent from the list as well as other official records. They seemed to have vanished into thin air.
The NRI had donated the bangles anonymously i.e, Gupta Daanam (secret donation). When she was informed that her bangles had gone ‘missing’, she called up the authorities. Surprisingly, they refused to share any information with her. It may be recalled a silk saree donated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to Subhananda Devi at Kaleshwaram temple was also reported missing.
Naini Supriya was the temple’s executive officer during the audit and is now being blamed for the mess. Endowment officials, without specifying any reasons, hastily transferred her to Warangal a couple of days ago and the new EO Saibaba is yet to take charge. However, she pleaded ignorance of any wrongdoing during her tenure in Dharmapuri.
Controversy over construction of toilet Another controversy has surrounded the construction of a Sulabh Complex in the temple. Vedic scholars have objected to it saying that it was against principles mentioned in the Agama Sastra and was ‘disturbing the holiness of the temple’. However, it is reported that endowment authorities are continuing the construction